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P. GU'NGERICH. MEANS FOR SAFEGUARDING AGAINST FIRE AND EXPLOSION.APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, I913.

1 ,32 1,799.. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I and G'Lb erlk'h P. GU'NGERICH.

MEANS FOR SAFEGUARDING AGAINST FIRE AND EXPLOSION. APPLICATION FILEDJUNE 28. I913.

1 3% l ,799. Patented Nov. 11, 19.19.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- 700 Y 3U d t fiahm; g7 Irma/MW,

W3 2 2mg lzyfihi ch W M 95 FATE.

T FFICE.

PAUL Glj'NGERICI-I, 0F BERLIN-STEG-LITZ, GERMANY, ASSIG'NOR, BY MESNE.AfiSIGIF MENTE, TO ALIEN PBJQIEEETY CUSTODIAN.

MEANS FOR SAFEGUABDIING AGAINST FIRE AND EXPLOSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application filed June 28, 191%. Serial No. 776,325.

To all r/eont it may concern Be it known that 1, PAUL (iiiNGlGRIUII, acitizen of the Empire of Germany, and resident of Berlin-Steglitz,Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means forSafeguarding Against Fire and Explosion, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in means forsafeguarding againstfire and explosion, closed vessels in which materials or articles aretreated with infiamn'iable liquids in the presence of a protective gas.More particularly my invention relates to improvements in meansdescribed and claimed in my copending application for patent filed March26, 1913 Serial Number 757,037. The object of the improvements is toprovide an apparatus, whereby the economy of the operation is greatlyincreased.

In the means described in my aforesaid prior application the protectivegas which is used in each operation is lost by escaping at the end ofthe operation into the atmosphere after opening the cover of the vesselin which it is used or after removing the same by means of the suctionpump connected with the said vessel. in order to increase the economythe protective gas within the working vessel, or the mixture of the saidprotective gas with air is conveyed by a pump into a gas receptacle fromwhich it is taken again for further use. V In carrying out the methoddescribed in the aforesaid application for patent the working vesselalways contains a mixture of the protective and air. Therefore whenstoring the said mixture and again using the same the amount of air inthe mixture might gradually be increased to such an extent, that it isnot suitable any more to provide a safeguard against fire and explosion.Therefore a further feature of my invention consists in providing meansfor admitting to the working vessel a definite amount of fresh gas,which amount is admitted at suitable periods and preferably at the endof each operation, and which is sufficient to safely prevent theformation of explosive gaseous mixtures. Thereby I am enabled to reducethe consumption of protective gas to a minimum and notwithstanding thisto protect the working vessel in a reliable way. For the purpose ofbetter explanation an apparatus embodying my present invention has beenshown in the accompanying drawings, in which the same letters ofreference have been used in all the views to indicate correspondingparts. In said drawings Figure 1, is a diagrammatical view of a systemwhich is suitable for chemically cleaning clothes and the like, and

Fig. 2, is a diagrammatical view illustrating the different positions ofthe valves of the apparatus corresponding to different operations.

In the example illustrated in the drawings a washing machine or vessel.2 is closed in a gas tight Way by a door 1, and it is equipped with fastand loose pulleys 3 and .4. by means of which a perforated drum (notshown) located inside the vessel can be rotated. To allow of the benzinbeing used over and over again, for example for cleaning clothes, a purebenzin receptacle 5, a semi-pure benzin receptacle 6, and a soiledbenzin receptacle 7 are provided. The receptacles 5 and 6 are connectedby pipes 8 and 9 with a tank containing a protective gas. This tank isnot shown in the drawings. The protective gas which is admitted to thereceptacles is under a pressure sufficient to force the benzin containedwithin the receptacles through the pipes 10 and 11 and into the washingvessel 2. The pipes 10 and 11 are equipped with shut-off devices orvalves 13 and 14: which are controlled (that is, either locked orreleased) by a suitable device, which may consist of a swinging orpivoted member which in one position prevents, and in another positionpermits, the operation of said valves. The soiled benzin receptacle 7 isconnected by a pipe 15 with the gas chamber of a gasometer 16 which isused in my improved method for storing the protective gas coming fromthe washing receptacle 2 and adding thereto a fresh supply of protectivegas to make it suitable for further use.

From the pipe 15 a pipe 90 isln'anched off which is connected through athreeway cock valve 91 with a pipe 92 connected to a tubular stud of thewashing receptacle 2. The pipe 99 is provided with a back pressure valve-1: the purpose of which is described hereinafter. The threeway valve 91is connected with a casing 23 within which a locking device is located.The said locking device consists of two valve disks 25 and 26 secured toa stem 2+1 and cooperating with the valve seats provided on the upperand lower sides of a sleeve 27. The stem 24 of the pressure member isacted upon by a weight 29, and it is adapted to engage with its lowerend within one of the ways of a threeway valve cock 95 located below thecasing 23. The threeway valve 95 is located in a pipe 96 branched offfrom the pipe 9 for the protective gas and communicating with anintermediate receptacle 98. The threeway valves 91 and 95 are positivelyconnected with each other by a gearing 97. The intermediate receptacle98 is connected at its top with thepipe 92 through a pipe 100.0011-taining a two-way valve 99, and at its bottom. with the pipe 90 for theprotective gas through a pipe 102 equipped with a twoway cock valve 101.The valves 99 and 101 are operatively connected with each other by a rod103, and the valve cook 99 is connected by a rod 10st with bevelgear-wheels 55 and 56 connected with the locking member 55.. The saidbevel, gear wheels 55 and 56 are connected by a rod 105 with a lockingdevice 106 acting on the operating mechanism 3, 4 of the washing machine2. To the top of the washingmachine 2 a pipe 31 is connected which opensinto the atmosphere and is equipped with a two-way cock valve 30. Belowthe said cock valve a pipe 341: is branched off from the pipe 31, whichis connected to the suction pipe of an air pump The pressure pipe 107 ofthe pump 32 is equipped with a two-way cock valve 108 and connected witha pipe 109, 110, the branch 109 opening into the atmosphere and thebranch 110 being connected with gas pipes 15 and 90.

The washing receptacle 2 is provided at its bottom with an outlet pipe39 which is connected through a two-way valve cook 35 with a pipe 86communicating with the semipure benzin receptacle 0, and through atwoway cock valve-37 with a pipe 38 communicating with the soiled-benzinreceptacle 7. The cock 35 is positively connected by a rod 111 with athree-way cock valve 112 which is provided at the joint of the pipes 9and 92.

In the example described herein the closing members 95, 101, 30, and 108are operated in the proper order corresponding to the steps of themethod from a common shaft 412 by cams 113, 114, 84;, and 115. The shaft4C2 is furthermore provided with a cam disk 116 which is adapted tooperate through a lever 117 a member 119 arranged to throw the drivingmechanism 118 of a suction pump 32 into or out of operation.

The operation of the apparatus described herein is as follows:

Fig. 1 shows the parts of the apparatus in the position which theyoccupy when starting the operation. The interior of the washingreceptacle or machine 2 is closed as against all the gas and liquidpipes connected therewith as well as against the atmosphere, and itcommunicates exclusively with the air pump 82 through the pipe 34. Thedriving mechanism 118 of the said'pump is in operative position, so thatthe pump draws the air out of the receptacle 2 and conveys the samethrough the pipes 107 and 109 into the atmosphere. As soon as sufficientsuction has been produced within the washing machine 2, which suction istransmitted through the pipes 93 and 92 to the casing 23 inclosing thelocking mechanism. the locking members 24:, 25, 26 is lifted, becausethe pressure of the protective gas passing from the intermediate casing98 and through the pipe 96 into the casing 23 comes into action. Therebythe valve disk 26 is seated, and closes the opening 27, as has beenindicated in Fig. 1 in dotted lines. and simultaneously the three-waycock 95 is disengaged by the stem 21-, so that when rotating the camdisk 113 the cock 95 and the cock 91 positively connected therewith areshifted into the position IT shown in Fig. 2, the other cocks remainingin their positions.

Now fresh protective gas flows from the pipe 9 and through the pipe 90into the intermediate casing 98. Simultaneously the suction acting onthe valve disk 25 of the locking devices 241-, 25, 26 is removed byprotective gas flowing from the receptacle 16 through the pipes 15 and90 into the upper chamber of the casing 23. Thereby the locking memberis moved downward into the position shown in Fig. l, and it looks thethree-way cock valve 95 in the position II. As soon as the pressure ofthe fresh protective gas admitted to casing 98 through pipe 96, whichpressure is operative also in the lower chamber of the casing 23. is inexcess of the pressure of the protective mixture flowing through thepipe 90 and acting on the valve disk 25. which pressure is comparativelysmall. the locking members 24, 25, 26 is again lifted and the cook 95unlocked.

Now after a further rotation of the shaft 42 the valves assume theposition III shown in Fig. 2, in which the valves 90 and 91 are again inthe positions shown in Fig. 1, while the valves 101 and 99 are turned insuch a way, that the protective gas inclosed within the intermediatereceptacle 98 can flow through the pipes 100, 92. and 93 into thewashing vessel 2, while another supply of fresh gas from the gasometcr10 flows into the intermediate receptacle 98 through the pipes 15, 90,and 102, so as to complete the filling of the protective gas within thewashing vessel 2. Simultaneously by the proper position of the cam disk116, the lever 117 coiiperating therewith, and the member 119 forthrowing the driving mechanism 118 of the air pump into or out ofoperation, the said driving mechanism is stopped.

lVhen the valves assume the position III the valves 13 and 1-1 which arelocated in the benzin supply pipes 10 and 11 are unlocked by the rod101, so that now successively opening the valve 14: and the valve 13 byhand at first semi-pure benzin and atten ward pure benzin is admittedthrough the pipes 11 and 10 respectively into the washing machineFurthermore by means of the rod 105 the locking member 106 of thedriving mechanism 3, 1- of the washing machine is thrown out ofoperation, so that the perforated drum provided within the washingmachine is thrown into operation.

At the end of the washing operation the outlet valve 37 is opened andthe soiled benzin is withdrawn through the pipes 39 and 38 and into thereceptacle 7. Thereupon, after closing the cock 3? and opening the valve13 pure benzin is admitted to the washing receptacle for rinsing theclothes inclosed thereiiii, whereupon after opening valve 13 thesemi-pure hcnzin is transmitted to the semi-pure benzin receptacle 6. Asthe cock 35 is positively connected with the three-way cock 112 by thegearing 111, the pressure betweei'i the gas chamber of the receptacle 6and the hollow of the washing vessel 2 is equalized, a llow ofcompressed gas from the pipe 92 to the casing 23 being prevented by theback pressure valve 94:.

At the end of the washing and rinsing operations the valves assume thepositions indicated by the numeral IV, in which the interior of thewashing vessel is connected exclusively with the air pump 32, and thecock 108 is set in such a position, that the pump 32 can draw theprotective mixture from the interior of the washing vessel and force thesame through the pipes 110 and 15 into the gasometer 16.

After the protective gas has been drawn oil, the shaft 42 is turned afurther step into the position indicated by the numeral V. Now air hasaccess to the washing vessel through the cook 30, whereupon the door 1can be opened for ren'ioving the cleaned goods from the vessel. In thisposition the driving mechanism 118 of the air pump is in its inoperativeposition.

For each operation the shaft 42 is turned through an angle of 7 2.degrees.

While in describing the invention reference has been made to aparticuhir example embodying the same, I wish it to be understood thatmy invention is not limited to the apparatus shown in the drawings, andthat various changes may be made in the e eneral arrangeme t ottheapparatus and the construction oiits elements without departing "from myinvention.

I claim herein as my invention:

1. The combination of a vessel adapted to be closed to th surroundingair,- means for supplying a cleaning liquid to said vessel, a. storingreceptacle adapted to receive the protective gas from said vessel, aconnection for conveying protective gas from said receptacle to saidvessel, and separate means for conveying an additional supply ofprotective gas to said vessel.

2. The combination of a vessel adapted to be closed to the surroundingair, means for supplying a cleaning liquid to said ressel, anintermediate receptacle adapted to be filled with a protective gas andto be connected with said vessel, a connection for supplying protectivegas to said intermediate receptacle, a storage receptacle adapted todeliver protective gas to said connection, means for withdrawingprotective gas trom said vessel and conveying it to said storagereceptacle, and a connection other than the one that leads from thestorage receptacle, to supply fresh protective gas to said intermediatereceptacle.

3. The combination of a vessel adapted to be closed to the surroundingair, means for supplying a cleaning liquid to said vessel, a storagereceptacle for a protective gas, adapted to receive protective gas fromsaid vessel and to return said gas to such vessel, and separate meansfor conveying an additional supply of protective gas to said vessel.

4. The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to the surroundingair, and means for supplying an inflammabl liquid for said vessel, of astoring receptacle adapted to receive the protective gas from saidvessel, means to supply protective gas from said storing receptacle tosaid vessel, and a protective gas supply connection other than the onethat leads from the storing receptacle for the protective gas, to supplyfresh protective to said vessel.

5. The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to the surroundingair, and means for supplying an inflammable liquid for said vessel, ofmeans for supplying a protective gas adapted to be connected with saidvessel to convey fresh gas thereto, a storing receptacle adapted toreceive the protective gas from said vessel, and means to supplyprotective gas from. said storing receptacle together with a freshsupply of protective gas to said vessel.

6. The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to the surroundingair. and means for supplying an inflammable liquid for said. vessel, ofa storing receptacle adapted to receive the protective gas from saidvessel, an intermediate receptacle adapted to receive protective gasfrom said storing receptacle, a protective gas supply connection otherthan the one that leads from the storing receptacle for the protectivegas, for supplying fresh protective gas to said nitenhediate receptacle,means to connect said iutermediate receptacle with said vessel andstoring receptacle and to disconnect the same from the said fresh gassupplying connection, and means to cause a flowpf protective gas fromthe storing receptacle to the intermediate receptacle and from theintermediate receptacle to the vessel.

7 The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to the surroundingair, means for supplying an inflammable liquid to said vessel, and meansto produce a vacuum within said vessel, of means for supplying aprotective gas, a storing receptacle adapted to receive the protectivegas from said vessel, an intermediate receptacle adapted to be connectedwith said protective gas supplying means, vessel and storing receptacle,a casing inclosinga lockingmember controlled by the fluid pressur withinthe casing, a three-way cock controlling the connection of saidprotective gas supplying means, intermediate receptacle and easing, athree-way cock controlling the connection of said casing with the vesseland storing receptacle and located at the side of the locking memberwithin the casing opposite to the cock controlling the connection ofsaid protective gas supplying means, intermediate receptacle and easing,said cocks being operatively connected with each other and adapted to belocked by said locking member within the casing, valves controlling theconnection of said intermediate receptacle with said vessel and storingreceptacle, and operating means for said cocks and valves.

8. The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to the surroundingair, means for supplying an inflammable liquid to said vessel, and meansto produce a vacuum with in said vessel, or" means for supplying aprotective gas, a storing receptacle adapted to receive the protectivegas from said vessel, an intermediate receptacle adapted to be connectedwith said protective gas supplying means, vessel and storing receptacle,a casing inclosing a locking member controlled by the fluid pressurewithin the casing, a three-way cock controlling the connection of saidprotective gas supplying means, intermediate receptacle and easing, athree- Way cock controlling the connection of said casing with thevessel and storing receptacle and located at the side of the lockingmember within the casing opposite to the cock controlling the connectionof said protective gas supplying means, intermediate receptacle andcasing said cocks being operatively connected with each other andadapted to be locked by said locking member within the casing, valvesoperatively connected with each other and controlling the connection ofsaid intermediate receptacle with said vessel and storing receptacle,and operating means for said cocks and valves. 4

9. The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to the surroundingair, means for supplying an inflammable liquid to said vessel, :1shut-off valve in said supplying means, locking means for said shut-oftvalve, and means to produce a vacuum within said vessel, of means forsupplying a protective gas, a storing receptacle adapted to receive theprotective gas from said vessel, an intermediate receptacle adapted tobe connected with said protective gas supplying means, vessel. andstoring receptacle, a casing iuclosing a locking member controlled bythe fluid pressure within the casing, a three-way cock controlling theconnection of said protective gas supplying ll'lGZLllS, intermediatereceptacle and easing, a three-way cock controlling the connection ofsaid casing with the vessel and storing receptacle and located at theside of the locking member within the casing opposite to the cockcontrolling the connection of said protective gas supplying means,intermediate receptacle and easing, said cocks being operativelyconnected with each other and adapted to be locked by said lockingmember within the casing, valves opera tively connected with each otherand controlling the connection of said intermediate receptacle with saidvessel and storing receptacle, an operative connection between saidcontrolling valves and shut-off valve, and operating means for saidcocks and valves.

10. The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to thesurroumling air, a mom. ber within said vessel, operating means for saidmember, locking means for said ope *ating means, means for supplying aprotective gas, a storing receptacle adapted to receive theprotectivegas from said vessel, an intermediate receptacle adapted to be connectedwith said protective gas supplying means, vessel and storing receptacle,a casing inclosing a locking member controlled by the fluid pressurewithin the casing, a three-way cock controlling the connection of saidprotective gas supplying means, intermediate receptacle and casing, athree-Way cock controlling the connection of said casing with the vesseland storing receptacle and located at the side of the locking memberwithin the casing opposite to the cock controlling the connection ofsaid protective gas supplying means, intermediate receptacle and casing,said cocks being operatively connected with each other and adapted to belocked by said locking member within the casing. valves operativelyconnected with each other and controlling the connection of said intermediate receptacle with said vessel and storing receptacle, an operativeconnection between said controlling valves, shut-ofi' valve and lockingmeans and adapted to throw the locking means into locking position whileprotective gas is being transmitted into the vessel, and operating meansfor said cocks and valves.

11 The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to the surroundingair, means for supplying an inflammable liquid to said vessel, and meansto produce a vacuum within the vessel, of means for supplying aprotective gas adapted to be connected with said vessel, a storingreceptacle adapted to receive the protective gas from said vessel, meansto supply protective gas from said storingreceptacle to said vessel, andinterdependent means for controlling said supplying means and saidvacuum producing means to throw the latter out of operation.

12. The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to thesurrounding air, means for supplying an inflammable liquid to saidvessel, and means to produce a vacuum within the vessel, of means forsupplying a protective gas adapted to be connected with said vessel, astoring receptacle adapted to receive the protective gas from saidvessel, means to supply protective gas from said storing receptacle tosaid vessel, means to open said vessel to the surrounding air, andinterdependent means for controlling said opening means and said vacuumproducing means to throw the latter out of operation.

13. The combination with a vessel adapted to be closed to thesurrounding air, means for supplying an inflammable liquid to saidvessel, and means to produce a vacuum within said vessel, of means forsupplying a protective gas, a storing receptacle adapted to receive theprotective gas from said vessel, an intermediate receptacle adapted tobe connected with said pirotective gas supplying means, vessel andstoring receptacle, a casing inclosing a locking member controlled bythe fluid pressure within the casing, a three-way cock controlling theconnection of said protective gas supplying means, intermediatereceptacle and easing, a three-way cock controlling the connection ofsaid casing with the vessel and storing receptacle and located at theside of the locking member within the casing opposite to the cockcontrolling the connection of said protective gas supplying means,intermediate receptacle and casing, said cocks being operativelyconnected with each other and adapted to be locked by said lockingmember within the casing, a back pressure valve located in theconnection between the vessel and easing, valves controlling theconnection of said intermediate receptacle with said vessel and storingreceptacle, and operating means for said cocks and valves.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of thesubscribing witnesses.

PAUL GUNGERIOH.

Witnesses WoLnsMAn HAUPT, HENRY I-LisrER.

(topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

1 Washington, D. G.

